‘Northbridge Turf Bermudagrass’

ABSTRACT

‘Northbridge Turf Bermudagrass’ is a clonally propagated FI hybrid from a cross of  C. transvaalensis  OSU selection ‘2747’ (2n=2x=18) by  C. dactylon  var.  dactylon  OSU selection ‘3200E 4-1’.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/456,133 entitled “TURF BERMUDAGRASS,” filed Nov. 1, 2010, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A new turf bermudagrass cultivar, ‘Northbridge’, is provided. Designated “Bermudagrass, Cynodon transvaalensis Burtt-Davy xc. dactylon (L.) Pers.”, the ‘Northbridge Turf Bermudagrass’ cultivar is also referred to herein by its experimental designation ‘OKC 1134’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a comparison of ‘Northbridge Turf Bermudagrass’ (denoted as ‘OKC 1134’) to Tifway and Tifton 10.

FIG. 2 is a comparison of ‘Northbridge Turf Bermudagrass’ (denoted as ‘OKC 1134’) to OKC 1119, Tifway and Tifton 10.

FIG. 3 is a photo of the inflorescense of ‘Northbridge Turf Bermudagrass’ (denoted as ‘OKC 1134’) and Tifton 10.

FIG. 4 is an illustration of the DNA profiles of various turf bermudagrass cultivars including ‘Northbridge Turf Bermudagrass’ (denoted as ‘OKC 1134’).

FIG. 5 is a comparison of ‘Northbridge Turf Bermudagrass’ (denoted as ‘OKC 1134’) to OKC 1119 and Tifway growing in a greenhouse.

FIG. 6 is a photo of ‘Northbridge Turf Bermudagrass’ (denoted as ‘OKC 1134’) growing outdoors.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION Description, Origin, and History

‘Northbridge Turf Bermudagrass’ is a clonally propagated FI hybrid from a cross of C. transvaalensis Oklahoma State University (“OSU”) selection ‘2747’ (2n=2x=18) by C. dactylon var. dactylon OSU selection ‘3200E 4-1’. Both the C. transvaalensis and C. dactylon plants were selected from broad genetic base populations for use as parents in interspecific crosses. Crossing between 2747 and 3200E 4-1 was achieved by planting clonal plants of each in close proximity in isolation from other bermudagrass plants. Seed was harvested from plants of the respective species in 1998 and used to start 630 space-planted plants in a screening nursery in spring 1999 on the Agronomy Research Station, Stillwater, Okla.

In spring 2001, 118 plants from the screening nursery were advanced to a replicated screening test (Test 2001-1) on the Agronomy Research Station. During summer 2004, ‘Northbridge Turf Bermudagrass’ along with other selected plants from Test 2001-1, were included in a replicated mowing test on the OSU Turf Research Center, Stillwater, Okla. Entries in this test were maintained under a golf course fairway management regime and evaluated for turf quality and other traits influencing performance (Han, 2009). Based on performance in this test, ‘Northbridge Turf Bermudagrass’ was entered in the 1997 National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP) bermudagrass test.

‘Northbridge Turf Bermudagrass’ is presumed to have 2n=3x=27 chromosomes. The variety is sterile and must be vegetatively propagated. OSU SSR molecular marker DNA profiling experiments definitely indicated ‘Northbridge Turf Bermudagrass’ is a unique genotype, distinct from other commercial cultivars, and other two OSU vegetatively propagated turf bermudagrass clones OKC 1119 and OKC 70-18 (Wang et al., 2010).

Characteristics and Performance

‘Northbridge Turf Bermudagrass’ has been evaluated in several OSU experiments, and more extensively in the 2007 NTEP test. Data from the NTEP test were collected from 8 locations in 2007, 16 locations in 2008, and 19 locations in 2009 (see 2007 Progress Report NTEP No. 09-2; 2008 Progress Report NTEP No. 09-1; 2009 Progress Report NTEP No. 10-4, each incorporated herein by reference as it is set out in its entirety, available at: http://www.ntep.org/bg.htm). The major performance characteristics of ‘Northbridge Turf Bermudagrass’ are described as follows:

‘Northbridge Turf Bermudagrass’ is highly infertile, producing only very few seed when grown in the presence of an effective pollinator. Consequently, it must be propagated asexually. Chromosome number has not yet been determined. It is likely a tetraploid with 2n=4x=36 chromosomes.

For mature plants grown in a greenhouse, leaf blade length and leaf blade width of ‘Northbridge Turf Bermudagrass’ was similar to that of Tifway, and much smaller relative to Tifton 10 (Table 1). ‘Northbridge Turf Bermudagrass’ had shorter internode length relative to Tifway and Tifton 10. Internode diameter of ‘Northbridge Turf Bermudagrass’ bermudagrass was larger than that of Tifway, but smaller than that of Tifton 10.

For plants grown in fields at Stillwater and Perkins, Okla. (Table 2), leaf blade width of OKC 1134 was similar to Tifway, but much narrower than Tifton 10. Leaf blades of ‘Northbridge Turf Bermudagrass’ were longer relative to those of Tifway and Tifton 10. Internode length of ‘Northbridge Turf Bermudagrass’ was similar to that of Tifway, but longer than that of Tifton 10. ‘Northbridge Turf Bermudagrass’ had smaller internode diameter than Tifton 10, but wider than Tifway (Table 2).

TABLE 1 Table 1. Measurements of leave blades and internodes of potted plants of ‘Oklahoma Turf Bermudagrass’, Tifway and Tifton 10 bermudagrasses, grown in a greenhouse at the Agronomy Research Station, Oklahoma State University. Data were collected in 2010 from three replications each having 10 sub-samples for each cultivar. Measured traits NorthBridge Tifway Tifton 10 5% LSD 4^(th) leaf blade length (cm)* 2.13 1.97 2.80 0.33 4^(th) leaf blade width (mm) 1.84 1.83 2.72 0.12 2^(nd) internode length (cm) 0.80 1.12 1.09 0.15 2^(nd) internode diameter (mm) 0.68 0.56 1.01 0.07 *Leaf from shoot apex.

TABLE 2 Table 2. Measurements of leave blades and internodes of field-grown plants of ‘Northbridge Turf Bermudagrass’, Tifway and Tifton 10 bermudagrasses. The field plots were established in 2010 and data were collected in 2011. Data of three replications each having 10 subsamples were collected for each cultivar. Measured 5% Location traits NorthBridge Tifway Tifton 10 LSD Agronomy 4^(th) leaf blade 7.15 4.42 3.39 0.43 Research length (cm) Farm, 4^(th) leaf blade 1.70 1.73 2.80 0.15 Stillwater, OK width (mm) 2^(nd) internode 1.51 1.61 0.69 0.22 length (cm) 2^(nd) internode 0.54 0.47 1.02 0.07 diameter (mm) Cimarron 4^(th) leaf blade 6.45 3.94 3.07 0.48 Valley length (cm) Research 4^(th) leaf blade 1.66 1.78 2.64 0.16 Station, width (mm) Perkins, OK 2^(nd) internode 1.20 1.02 0.63 0.17 length (cm) 2^(nd) internode 0.67 0.54 1.14 0.08 diameter (mm)

‘Northbridge Turf Bermudagrass’ DNA profiles are different from those of 30 commercial clonal bermudagrass cultivars and one experimental genotype as revealed by 11 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers (FIG. 1) (Wang et al., 2010).

FIG. 4 illustrates DNA profiles of 32 vegetative turf bermudagrass cultivars amplified with 11 SSR primer pairs (PPs). The numbers at the bottom of the gel images: 1=Baby, 2=Celebration, 3=FloraTex, 4=Midfield, 5=Midlawn, 6=Midway, 7=MS-Choice, 8=MS-Price, 9=MS-Express, 10=OKC 70-18, 11=Latitude 36 (OKC 1119), 12=‘Northbridge Turf Bermudagrass’, 13=Patriot, 14=Premier, 15=Quickstand, 16=Sunturf, 17=Texturf 10, 18=Tifton 10, 19=TifGrand, 20=U-3-SIU, 21=Vamont, 22=Midiron, 23=TifSport, 24=Tifway, 25=Tifway II, 26=TifEagle, 27=Tifgreen, 28=Champion, 29=FloraDwarf, 30=Mini Verde, 31=MS-Supreme, 32=TifDwarf. Image A (labeled on the left side) was generated by SSR PP CDCA31-32, B by CDCA55-56, C by CDCA77-78, D by CDCA133-134, E by CDCA155-156, F by CDCA379-380, G by CDCA747-748, H by CDE89-90, I by CDE127-128, J by CDE215-216, and K by CDE375-376 (Wang et al., 2010. Use of the figure was permitted from the journal Crop Science).

-   Turf quality: The turf quality of ‘Northbridge Turf Bermudagrass’ is     very high as indicated by ratings collected in 2008 and 2009 from     the 2007 NTEP test. In this test, the turf quality of ‘Northbridge     Turf Bermudagrass’ has been statistically equal to that of Tifway     and Premier. These three varieties along with another OSU entry (OKC     1119), have had the highest quality ratings of all 31 entries at     most locations (2008 NTEP Tables 1A&C, 2A&C, 3A&C, & 4A&C; 2009 NTEP     Tables 1A&C, 2A&C, 3A&C, & 4A&C). The high turf quality of     ‘Northbridge Turf Bermudagrass’ as indicated by NTEP data is     supported by data from internal OSU testing indicating it to have     turf quality equal to or better than other current industry standard     bermudagrass varieties: -   Cold tolerance and spring greenup: Freeze tolerance evaluations at     OSU provided T_(mid) COC, cultivars followed by the same letter are     not significantly different in freeze tolerance at P:S 0.05) values     for ‘Northbridge Turf Bermudagrass’ (-8.9a), Midlawn (-8.3a), Tifway     (-7.5b). The results indicated ‘Northbridge Turf Bermudagrass’ has a     level of freeze tolerance on a par with that of Midlawn and superior     to Tifway. Midlawn has been widely known as one of the most cold     hardy turf bermudagrass varieties. The spring greenup rating (6.4)     of ‘Northbridge Turf Bermudagrass’ was statistically better than     that of Tifway (5.7), Premier (6.0), and Midlawn (4.3) in 2009 while     spring greenup rating (5.7) of ‘Northbridge Turf Bermudagrass’ was     equal to that of Tifway (5.5), Premier (5.3), and Midlawn (5.3) in     2008 (2008 NTEP Table 8C and 2009 NTEP Table 10C). The level of     winter hardiness of ‘Northbridge Turf Bermudagrass’ should allow it     to be used in the transition zone environment with reduced risk of     freeze injury relative to Tifway. -   Genetic color: ‘Northbridge Turf Bermudagrass’ was rated     statistically equal to Tifway and Premier, and superior to Midlawn     in genetic color in 2008 (2008 NTEP Table 7C). ‘Northbridge Turf     Bermudagrass’ had lighter green color than ‘Patriot’ bermudagrass in     both 2008 and 2009, and Tifway and Premier in 2009 (2008 NTEP Table     7C; 2009 NTEP Table 9C). ‘Northbridge Turf Bermudagrass’ grown in     the field with 100 lb N/ac applied in the summer had leaves of     strong yellowish green color, rated as RHS143C, similar to Tifway,     but less dark than Tifton 10, which was rated as RHS 144A. The leaf     color was visually rated based on the color systems of Azalea     Society of America     (http://www.azaleas.org/index.pl/rhsmacfan3.html). -   Leaf texture: ‘Northbridge Turf Bermudagrass’ has fine leaf texture     similar to Tifway and Premier, but finer than Midlawn (2008 NTEP     Table 9C and 2009 NTEP Table 11 C). Its stem diameter is about the     same as Tifway and Premier. -   Sod tensile strength: Field evaluations at OSU indicated different     sod tensile strength values (kg/dm²) for ‘Northbridge Turf     Bermudagrass’ (186.2 in 2004 and 175.1 in 2005) and for Tifway     (161.3 in 2004 and 143.7 in 2005), and the differences are     statistically significant only in 2005 (Han, 2009). Tifway has     exhibited high sod tensile strength in both controlled experiments     and sod production. -   Sod density: Ratings in spring, summer and fall in multiple     locations over both 2008 and 2009 indicated sod density of     ‘Northbridge Turf Bermudagrass’ to be slightly higher than, or about     equal to, that of Tifway and Premier, and significantly higher than     that of Midlawn (2008 NTEP Tables 10C, 11C, 12C; 2009 NTEP Tables     12C, 13C & 14C). -   Seedhead ratings: In 2008, ‘Northbridge Turf Bermudagrass’ had     seedhead ratings better than or equal to Tifway, Premier and Midlawn     in most locations, but produced more seedheads than Midlawn and     Tifway in TX2 (2008 NTEP Tables 21 Co 22C, 23C &24C). In 2009,     ‘Northbridge Turf Bermudagrass’ had seedhead ratings better than or     equal to Tifway, Premier and Midlawn at all locations (2009 NTEP     Tables 24C, 28C, 29C, 30C & 31C). -   Disease response: ‘Northbridge Turf Bermudagrass’ has demonstrated a     high level of resistance to Large Patch disease (2009 NTEP 27C). -   Insect response: No significant insect problems have been observed     for ‘Northbridge Turf Bermudagrass’ except in FL 1, where mole     cricket resistance rating of ‘Northbridge Turf Bermudagrass’ as     numerically lower than that of Tifway, Midlawn and Premier although     the differences are not statistically significant (2009 NTEP Table     26C). -   Salinity response: Grown under saline stress at Las Cruces, N. Mex.,     ‘Northbridge Turf Bermudagrass’ has demonstrated a high level of     salinity tolerance, better than Midlawn, Premier and Tifway in 2008,     better than Midlawn and Premier and equal to Tifway in 2009 (2008     NTEP Table 6C, 2009 NTEP Table 8C). -   Traffic tolerance: Traffic tolerance ratings of ‘Northbridge Turf     Bermudagrass’ were equal to that of Tifway and Premier, and better     than that of Midlawn in AR2 and FL2 (2009 NTEP Tables 5C, 6C).     ‘Northbridge Turf Bermudagrass’ had traffic tolerance about equal to     Tifway, Premier and Midlawn in NC 1 (2009 NTEP Table 7C).     ‘Northbridge Turf Bermudagrass’ was lower in traffic tolerance than     Tifway and equal to Premier and Midlawn in FL2 (2008 NTEP Table 5C). -   Herbicide tolerance: OSU field experiments indicated the effects of     various post emergence herbicides on the establishment rate of     ‘Northbridge Turf Bermudagrass’ compared to OKC 1119, OKC 7018 and     Tifway (Koh et al., 2010). Herbicide treatments were as follows: 1)     Untreated control, 2) MSMA at 2.2 kg ai/ha, 3) MSMA at 4.4 kg     ailha, 4) Quinclorac at 0.8 kg ae/ha, 5) Quinclorac at 1.6 kg     ae/ha, 6) Metsulfuron at 0.025 kg ailha, and 7) Metsulfuron at 0.050     kg ailha. There was no negative effect on ‘Northbridge Turf     Bermudagrass’ establishment rate when treated with the labeled rates     of the herbicides. In addition, ‘Northbridge Turf Bermudagrass’     performed equal to Tifway and OKC 1119 and greater than OKC 7018 in     herbicide tolerance ratings and reached 100% establishment at 8     weeks after planting. -   Establishment: ‘Northbridge Turf Bermudagrass’ has a better or equal     establishment rate compared with Tifway, Premier and Midlawn.     Establishment ratings of ‘Northbridge Turf Bermudagrass’ were higher     than that of Tifway, Premier and Midlawn in LAI (2007 NTEP Table     18C), higher than Midlawn and Tifway, and equal to that of Premier     in NC2 (2007 NTEP Table 20C), better than Tifway, and equal to     Premier and Midlawn in TX2 (2007 NTEP Table 23C) equal to that of     Premier, Tifway and Midlawn in AZ1, MS2, OKI, TN2 (2007 NTEP Tables     17C, 19C, 21C, 22C). ‘Northbridge Turf Bermudagrass’ had an     establishment rating slightly lower than Premier and Tifway, but     quicker than Midlawn in FL2 (2008 NTEP Table 28C), and equal to     Premier, Tifway and Midlawn in FL3 (2008 NTEP Table 29C). -   Summary comparative performance: The major strengths of ‘Northbridge     Turf Bermudagrass’ are its high turf quality, fine texture, improved     winter hardiness, early greenup, high sod density, and very high sod     tensile strength. The combined performance data indicate it has less     risk of winter injury than Tifway, perhaps Premier, while providing     equal turf quality. Compared to Midlawn, its turf quality is much     improved. ‘Northbridge Turf Bermudagrass’ is much better than     Midlawn in sod tensile strength, a major consideration for sod     growers. 

We claim:
 1. A turf bermudagrass plant substantially as described and illustrated in the specification herein. 